The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, as there is no credible evidence of current tinnitus.,Service connection for PTSD was denied due to the lack of a valid diagnosis and the absence of supporting evidence linking the condition to in-service stressors.,Colon cancer was granted service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is also considered as secondary to his colon cancer.,The Veteran's cataracts with left eye asteroid hyalosis were found not to meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to their impact on visual acuity being within normal limits.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, was granted in February 2012. The effective date of this service connection is denied as there are no formal or informal claims made prior to that time.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not provide credible evidence of current tinnitus and the VA examiner found no current disability.,There was insufficient evidence linking PTSD symptoms to in-service stressors, leading to a denial of service connection.,The medical opinion provided by Dr. Skaggs established a link between herbicide exposure and colon cancer, allowing for service connection based on presumptive criteria.,The Veteran's cataracts did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in both eyes.,There is no evidence of an earlier effective date claim since the Veteran never filed a formal or informal claim prior to February 3, 2012.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), colon cancer, cataracts with left eye asteroid hyalosis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19125293
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 631 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19125293.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.